Western Creek Track and Whiteleys Hut.

[mag3000]

I have just re-read my initial post and should point out that I should have said add to AGD 66 not GDA 94.

I will attach a screenshot to hopefully explain.

The coordinate list is shown for the red triangle. In order to convert that spot from AGD 66 (427001 E 5383001N) to GDA 94 then add the 112 and 183 to the AGD 66 and that then becomes a GDA 94 figure. (Shown as 427113E and 5383185N)

Hope this helps.

Have to stop now before I confuse myself.

[sirius Tas]

Hi All,
Had been planning this walk plus walking to Ironstone Mountain(geocaching again) for some time, so was great to be able to read the very helpful comments posted here. Weather wise things haven't been too flash so when an extended high pressure ridge presented itself last Thursday(4th Dec) and I had the time...though was still constrained a little as needed to be back at the car by 4pm. A very early start was in order..left home at 0430...arriving at carpark around 0550. Looking up to the tiers I was a little uncertain as to the weather...still quite a bit of cloud about...mist rising.
Left carpark just on 0600 with lightish day pack(still weighing in at 4.5kg) including a kg of tucker...4 paws as well to feed(plus extra)...I took the route south from here as suggested by Pompom(so glad I did)...track zig zagging and rising sharply but didn't seem long before easing off, passing a great little spring on the way....from here the track was in great condition arriving at the falls by 0640. Had a 10m break here while placing a cache(can't help myself)....such a great spot deserving a lot more visits...crossed the stream...from here the track became decidedly more rugged and more what I'd expected...but in no time we were at the main Western Ck. crossing...it was a little vague...but thanks to Speculator knew where to cross...placed more pink tape here and a few spots further on...co-ords on western side for those interested AGD66...old Tasmap Datum...E455721 N5383628. GPSr was showing only 900m to Norms' hut...certainly wasn't long before it came into view...very rustic shelter....but a very welcome sight and would seem like the 'Hilton' in bad weather...arriving at 0745. Decided to place another cache here...http://geocaching.com.au/cache/ga1292
such an interesting spot with great views of Ironstone Mt. and the Trig beacon which was beckoning me on. Left here at 0755 where the pad south was quite easy to follow...arriving adjacent to northern end of Lake Ironstone around 0840.
Looking east it was hard to decide which was the best route as the alpine scrub...though low was quite dense...with sirius(4 paws) to think of...the going at first was a little tough but soon enough broke out into more open going skirting hard against the quite prominent rocky crag and heading up a smallish gully.
Once onto some scree the going got quite easy with a quick jaunt across the plateau...over a couple of minor ridges where the Trig eventually came into view...arriving here at 0940. With just a light but very cool breeze at first...this dropped out to become almost still...perfect weather with a total 360 degree view. After placing the main cache..taking photos...some can be found at..http://geocaching.com.au/cache/ga1294
standing on top of the rock wall surrounding the Trig...Norms' hut was just visible in the distance.
To view photos...go down the cache page to Gallery...once opened click on picture to enlarge.
Leaving here at 0955 I was almost tempted to take a more direct route north but as I had sirius in tow thought better to retrace our steps. Descending was actually a lot easier as the animal pads were easier to spot...arriving back at the hut by 1120. A quick break of 5min and away..back across the falls...but wasn't long before I became diverted onto the lower loop track. I was tempted to get back onto the top track(wish I had)...as this lower route is one 'pig' of a track...crisscrossed with roots and rocks...large logs across...actually quite hard walking...eventually arriving back at the car park at 1240.
Definitely a day to cherise...such speccy scenery and well worth the effort.
Cheers...all.

[Speculator]

Sirius,

Absolutely marvellous, thanks very much! Ironstone is on my todo list too, so it's nice to hear from someone who's done it!

Would you care to write up your track notes in the BWT Wiki for us?

L8r.

[sirius Tas]

Hi Speculator,
Definitely not a problem..once I get my head around whats involved. I've been very appreciative of the many helpful comments from forum members...so any help I can provide to others will be gratefully supplied.
Cheers

[sirius Tas]

Hey Speculator,
I've taken a look at wiki...but for me at this time....way too complicated and I'd be terrified of stuffing things up. But if someone more capable wishes to use my track notes...please go right ahead. The track notes list is a great idea. I've found quite a lot of notes on Wildtiger...maybe more of those notes can be brought across...if allowed???...e.g. Mt Rogoona has good notes by Marian Harradine...also Mt. Freycinet/Mt. Graham circuit.
Cheers

[CEyre]

Two of my kids and I walked into Whiteleys Hut along the Western Creek track on the first weekend of July 2010. We found the track to be fairly rugged and quite challenging at times and poorly marked. We lost the pad crossing the creek just before the pad and continued along the eastern side of the creek for aout 200 extra metres and then made a beeline through the shrubs for the hut co-ordinates. We eventually refound the track some 400 m from the destination. We taped the creek crossing on the way back down the track.
The area is well worth the walk and as typical my kids enjoyed exploring the terrain around the shack.

[Ent]

Hi

The river crossing is easily missed. The clue is when you strike the remains of an old fence that you have gone to far. There are two ways in from the bottom. One from memory follows the creek all the way and the other zig zags up the hill but does involve traversing a field of large bolders before both tracks join. Not sure how passable would be the waterfall after heavy rains but there was a steel wire to help with balance when I was last there,

Cheers Brett

[ILUVSWTAS]

The hut does heat up nicely, though it was a bit crowded with 8 of us in there.

There's also a very fancy toilet 60m above the hut, quite civilized!!

[Graham51]

I did a circuit up to Ironstone hut via Lady Lake and back down via Whiteleys and Western Creek in September 2009. The snow was pretty heavy and there was a lot of water running off. The waterfall you half way down Western Creek track was running furiously and was a rather treacherous crossing even with the wire across it. I must admit I didn't have much faith in the wire and the power of the water was at the limit of what I could handle. Something to be considered before heading up or down in wet conditions.

[taswegian]

There's also a very fancy toilet 60m above the hut, quite civilized!!

That must take the prize for the longest long drop in Tasmania.

[ILUVSWTAS]

There's also a very fancy toilet 60m above the hut, quite civilized!!

That must take the prize for the longest long drop in Tasmania.

Har Har.. very clever.

ok it's a 60m walk uphill from the hut...